Karnataka tables new hate-speech bill amid BJP opposition

On Wednesday, the Karnataka government tabled the much-awaited Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2025 in the Legislative Assembly, even as the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) raised sharp objections. 

The Bill — approved by the Cabinet on December 4 — aims to strengthen the state’s legal armour against expressions and acts that incite hatred or disharmony. 

What the bill defines as “Hate Speech” and “Hate Crime”

Under the Bill, “hate speech” would include “any expression — spoken or written word, signs, visible representations, or through electronic communication or otherwise — made or circulated in public view with the intention to cause injury, disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will against a person (alive or dead), a community, group, class of persons or their beliefs.” 

The Bill recognises a wide range of protected grounds under which such speech or acts could amount to offences. These include religion, race, caste or community, sex, gender, sexual orientation, place of birth, residence, language, disability, or tribe. 

“Hate crime” is defined more broadly — encompassing not only hate-speech but also acts that promote, propagate, incite, abet or attempt such hate speech with the objective of creating disharmony or hatred against individuals, groups or organisations. 

Penalties, Enforcement & Liability

For a first offence, the Bill prescribes a jail term of 1 to 7 years and a fine of ₹50,000. 

For repeated or subsequent offences, punishment increases to a minimum of 2 years up to 10 years in prison, and a fine of ₹1,00,000. 

Offences under the Bill are to be cognizable and non-bailable, and trials will be held by a First Class Judicial Magistrate. 

Courts will also have the power to order adequate compensation to victims depending on the harm caused by the offence. 

If an offence is committed by an organisation or institution, every person who was “in charge of and responsible” at the time of the offence will be deemed guilty and can be prosecuted — unless they can prove that they neither knew of the offence nor had the opportunity to prevent it. 

Additional Provisions — Digital Media, Preventive Powers & Exemptions

The Bill empowers a designated officer of the State Government to order any “service provider, intermediary, person or entity” to block or remove hate-crime materials from its domain — including digital and electronic media. 

It also grants preventive powers to Executive Magistrates, Special Executive Magistrates or Deputy Police Superintendents: they can take action ahead of any anticipated offence if they believe a person or group in their jurisdiction is likely to commit a hate-crime offence. 

The Bill contains exemptions: its provisions will not apply to books, pamphlets, papers, writings, drawings, paintings or other forms of expression (including electronic) if they are “in the interest of science, literature, art or learning, or for bona fide heritage or religious purposes.” 

Political response & concerns

The tabling of the Bill triggered strong resistance from the BJP. As the Bill was introduced in the Assembly, BJP members vocally opposed it — shouting “No” when permission was sought for tabling. 

BJP leaders have argued that the Bill threatens freedom of speech and could be misused to stifle dissent, especially against opposition voices. 

What the legislature Says — Why the bill

The government says that the Bill is necessary because “no existing law deals explicitly with hate speech”, and that the new legislation aims to prevent social disharmony, maintain peace and public order, and protect vulnerable communities from targeted hate-speech and hate-crime. 

According to law-makers, the Bill draws on precedents in other democratic societies and attempts to craft a balance — allowing free expression while preventing speech or acts that seek to incite enmity or violence on grounds of identity such as religion, caste, gender or language